Oxford Rifle Range to re-open

by Emily Chapman

One of Oxford’s older community facilities is getting a revamp!

Over 50 years ago, Oxford area started its own Oxford Miniature Rifle Club (which ceased to operate over 10 years ago). As part of this, a rifle range was installed in the Oxford Pavillion.

The West Eyreton Smallbore Rifle Club is in the process of relocating from the Cust Hall due to concerns about lead on the floor of this shared communal facility.

Club President Peter Boerlage advised that folllowing discussions with the Council, a major cleaning process would need to be undertaken after each club night for safety purposes if they remained in Cust along with other substantial modifications to meet range regulations. This made it too difficult for the club to continue at Cust and a new purpose built venue was needed. Fortunately Oxford has that facility sitting there not being utilized.

The move to the Oxford range has been under consultation for a long time, and there is a keen interest from Oxford locals as well as from the Oxford Area School in supporting the resurrection of the sport of Smallbore Rifle Shooting at the Oxford Range.

To start up in the Oxford Pavillion, the Club now have to undertake major repairs and modifications to make the old range compliant with current regulations, and to reinstate parts of the range which were dismantled to allow for earthquake strengthening of the building.

The existing dirt floor of the old range has to be encapsulated with plastic and concrete. The walls need to be painted so that they can be washed to remove any lead contamination in the future.

An air purification fan with a specific hepa filter needs to be installed. The bullet traps need to be reinstalled, stairs moved, secure storage created and a concrete block wall needs to be reinstated. (The group are looking for a block layer who may be willing to help them construct this wall of approx 100 blocks).

While the club is hoping to be open in June, there is still a lot of work to do.

Peter says that while there can be fears around rifle use, they have a very strict protocol to ensure everyone’s safety. He goes on to say that in New Zealand there has never been a harm incident at an indoor range.

A range officer is in charge of everything that goes on, and their instructions must be followed to the letter. Once the range is open, it would be great to see locals come along and give it a try.

The Club has the equipment required for you to come and have a go. Peter says “It is a sport that you can go far in, with current members having represented New Zealand internationally”.

The Club will be holding a public meeting at the Pavillion on 20th April at 7.30pm so people can come along and learn more about their plans and progress.

Peter says “We are happy to chat to anyone who is either interested in getting involved in the sport, or who has concerns around the safety”.

If you would like to get involved, or for more information you can contact Peter on kadandy@xtra.co.nz.